THE VALUE OF PRAYER.
Oh, teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things Thou dost impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.
Mrs. Knowles's life, throughout, was characterized by great sincerity
and steadfastness of purpose. As an evidence of it, I will give a
sketch of her experience and work from her own pen, illustrating how
the closing hours of her life were chiefly devoted to "Gathering
Jewels" for Christ, as the secret of a truly beautiful life.
"In my field of labor I have met with much success and
encouragement, though, indeed, there are more cases very trying and
painful to witness, but _all difficulties can be encountered, and
many overcome, by prayer. I feel more and more the blessedness of
the privilege I enjoy in being permitted to labor for Christ in the
salvation of so many poor souls_, and in being the means of aiding
so many who are sick, cast down, and discouraged. How many there are
who neglect the house of prayer from the contagion of bad example
around them, and the want of a kind word of invitation, until the
habit becomes fixed, and it needs urging to remind them of their
duty? _I often think of the words of Christ_: '_Compel them to come
in_.' Yes, compulsion of the right kind is very needful, and a word
of interest and encouragement such a help. One poor woman whom I
visited a short time since, told me her lot was the hardest in the
world--that she had seven children all out of Christ. I told her not
to be disheartened; that if she could say God was her God, she could
say he was the God of her seed, and that Jesus had said: 'Whatsoever
ye shall ask in my name, believing, ye shall receive.' She said: 'I
have hoped so long, but now I am discouraged.' I told her the mother
of St. Augustine said she had prayed for fourteen long years for her
son, and her friend said to her: 'I tell you the subject of so many
long and earnest prayers cannot be lost.' And that son, of whom she
was then in search, and whom she met a short time afterward, was
then under deep conviction, and soon afterward brought to Christ,
and became an earnest and devoted minister; 'and you, my friend,
need not be discouraged, for the same Spirit can work as powerfully
on the hearts of your children as on his.' I prayed with her, and
left her begging me to pray for her; calling on her a few days
since, she met me with a cheerful countenance, and told me what I
had said, together with reading the promise of an answer to prayer,
had greatly encouraged her, and that her eldest son, who was the
most unruly of all, had accompanied her to church on the last
Sabbath, and she believed now the rest would be led to follow his
example. I told her to doubt no longer, and with a word of cheer
left her."
Here I will make a few comments on the above.
_All difficulties can be encountered, and many overcome by prayer._--How
true and weighty is this remark. Remembrance of this would guard and
govern aright the actions of Christians, and deliver them from all
unprofitable and injudicious murmurings. It suggests the only true
antidote for the ills of life. A pleasant path to tranquillity of mind
is prayer. Whether amid the crowded city or in the quiet hamlet, on land
or on sea, at home or abroad, no matter where we are, God's ear is
always open to the cry of His children. Prayer is the divinely appointed
means to the attainment of peace. It lifts the soul above the cares and
vicissitudes of life. Its effect is nearness to God. Earth's sighs are
numerous. The tears flow thick and fast. Tears of affright. The enemy
comes in like a flood, but the Lord lifts up a standard against them
all; and the blest remembrance of the promise, "Cast thy burden by
prayer on the Lord, and He will sustain thee," imparts fresh courage
amid the conflict. The man who forgets to pray in the hour of trial is
like one who has lost his way on a dark, stormy night; he is, indeed, a
benighted traveller on a lonesome, dreary road. But let us thank God
that--
From every stormy wind that blows,
From every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sure retreat;
'Tis found beneath the Mercy Seat.
_I feel more and more the blessedness of the privilege I enjoy, in being
permitted to labor for Christ in the salvation of so many poor
souls._--When we labor with an eye to the glory of God, and the
exaltation of the name of Jesus in the salvation of lost sinners, it
always imparts perpetual pleasure. It was for the joy that was set
before Jesus that He endured the Cross. Pure pleasure springs from the
motive of doing good. This was the standard from which Christ labored.
His compensation consisted in clarifying the natural and spiritual
vision of those who sat in darkness and the shadow of death. This is the
true explanation of His mysterious patience with those who frequently
repelled His teachings and doings, when they were attributed to the
power of the Prince of the Air. But the incarnate Son of God fainted not
in His work, until He exclaimed, "It is finished." It is even so with
all faithful missionaries. They feel it to be an unspeakable privilege
to be co-workers with Christ; recognizing the fact that it is not their
work but God's, and while they acknowledge their utter inability to save
a single soul, yet, doubtless, their joy and satisfaction in all their
work springs from the sacred consciousness that there is not only
rejoicings and gladness of heart experienced on earth, but "joy in the
presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."
_I often think of the words of Christ, Compel them to come in._--The
scene is changed. From prayer in the closet, to kindly compulsion in the
lanes and streets of the city. Here the reader will find the true secret
of her beautiful life; namely, frequent reflection on the words of
Christ, relative to Christian work in the world. "Go ye out into the
highways and lanes," etc. This is the only method by which we can have
communication with the souls of men and women who are perishing for lack
of knowledge. The question has often been asked by the philanthropic men
of the present day, How can we reach the masses? How can we save the
non-churchgoers? It is calculated that with a population of almost a
hundred thousand souls in the Tenth Ward alone, of New York, only about
one-fourth attend any place of worship. These facts and figures are
startling, but they are, nevertheless, true. These precious souls, for
whom Christ died, must be made the object of our affection. Our
knowledge of the spiritual destitution of the down-town masses is
strictly based upon our experience and observation. And hence we say
that a house to house visitation, systematically arranged, constitutes
one of the essential characteristics of Christ-like work. He labored not
only in the temple and the synagogue, but in the market-place, and on
the streets. His pulpit was the stern-sheets of the ship, on the Sea of
Galilee.
_With a word of cheer left her._--Think of the power of a kind word.
Amid all the busy scenes of life, is there no time for a cheerful word?
When the Chief Priests and Pharisees sought to lay hands on Jesus, they
feared the multitude because they took him for a prophet. What rays of
celestial sunshine sometimes stream into the soul of the disheartened
one when the missionary whispers, "Put all your trust in Jesus, and he
will care for you." There is balm in Gilead, and there is a physician
there. Look at the power of a kind word uttered by the Master. Are there
no tumultuous fears allayed in the breast of those two blind men as they
sit by the wayside to Jerusalem? They cry, "Have mercy on us, O Lord,
thou Son of David." Is there not a stupendous wealth of kindness and
potency portrayed in yon scene when Jesus stood still and called them,
and uttered those strange kind words: "What will ye that I should do
unto you?" How sad is the sight of a blind person! How intensely dark
their surroundings! How they excite our pity! How many, alas! are
blinded by sin, sickness, and sorrow. "They say unto him, Lord, that our
eyes may be opened. Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes,
and immediately their eyes received sight and they followed him." Is
there any wonder that the whole city was moved, saying, "Who is this?
This is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth, of Galilee." Now the Saviour
said, "As the Father hath sent me, even so send I you into the world."
Kind Christian words contain the rich unction of encouragement and
inspiration to the sorrowful, heavy-laden heart. So daughter, be of good
cheer, thy sins, which are many, are all forgiven thee.